Since the three Wizards are (finally ) ready, Phil and I have consulted the stars and used the arcane formula to calculate which warband they will be "observing" for their first outing for all games played at the Mill between Monday 18th January and Sunday 24th January.

The Merchant of Menace15th January, the year of the Earth Ox, Skirmish at the Merchant’s Guildhouse

The Lost Waaagh and the Cheery Woodfolk both tried to wrest control of the Merchant’s Guildhouse from the Gloomwyrms.

Much to the amusement of all the Orcs present, three Wood Elves tried to leap between the upper stories of an inn and a pie shop, only one of them made it! Two fell to the cobbles below but somehow managed to avoid injuring themselves. Their pride was somewhat dented though!

The Gloomwyrms headed for the Elves as fast as they could (mostly, it has to be admitted, to avoid getting shot by them while fighting the Lost Waaaghband). But the Savage Orcs seemed intent on getting the Cathayan Pirates.

Sling stones from the Savages and arrows from the Elves rained down on the Pirates and many of them fell with minor injuries. Tricky Tarka summoned a huge green ectoplasmic fist that slammed a Wood Elf back into two of his friends – knocking one unconscious.

Qi-el lost his temper and went flying into the side street crowded with Savage Orcs, but he foolishly chose their Ogre Bodyguard as his target!

The rest of the Lost Waaagh surrounded the imprudent pirate and beat him to the ground. This was the last straw for the Gloomwyrms and they fell back from the fight. The Gloomwyrms held on to the Guildhouse area but their grip on it was loosened slightly…

In a quiet but smoke-filled tavern in Cheapside, three robed figures sat close to the fire and nursed their small drinks. The locals had viewed them with suspicion to begin with, but after a three of weeks of regularly sheltering from the cold weather with a pint in the Pickled Mariner Tavern, they had become used to the strange gentlemens’ ways. They hardly seemed to even notice them anymore, despite their long robes and peculiar hats.

“Even after so short a stay here we can see who the main protagonists are: the Circus, the Elves, the Beastmen and the Cave Orcs. The Bretonnians looked promising for a while, as did the Witch Hunters, but they fell by the way-side.” said Mr Bell.

“Yes, yes, the Stregoi and the Norse are also possible.” said Mr Candle.

“Mr Book, Mr Candle, it is time for us to venture out into the city – we can best observe them on the ground, so to speak.” said Mr Bell.

“I concur, Mr Bell, we have learned all we can of the active parties in Vercuso, without getting first-hand experience of their activities.” said Mr Candle.

“We may have to get our hands dirty but we have no choice.” said Mr Book.The three eccentric men nodded sagely.

“But not today, eh?” said Mr Bell “It’s still a bit chilly and this fire is quite warm…”

So what became of our farmers, all warped and fiendish and twisted,Well there was much work to be done, and disciples to be enlisted,Their losses had been few, but they were losses all the same,And so more would have to be mutated, the wildlife birds and game,

Their shaman was a man so utterly vile, that his presence scarred the soul,And he told his minions to bring to him, a newly born deer foal,And he placed it upon a log, and carved it with a knife,And from its bleeding carcass, their sprang unholy life,

A head did peer from the innards, and gaze out with ghastly eyes,And slithered from the belly, and brought with it maggots and flies,It pawed at the earth like a babe, and cowered to its master,He who shall remain unnamed, who was bigger stronger faster,

And so the Unnamed Man, who once knew light and piety,Was embarking on a journey, serving a rather different diety,But who this lord of evil was, he would not tell his brothers,For they were pawns in a greater game, and playthings of 'The Others',

* * *

So there were fiends about, with skin as green as limes,And they had experienced defeat, quite a lot of times,Our once noble farmers, now damned for all eternity,Decided to put an end, to this oddly coloured fraternity,

'Huzzah, hurrah, and woe to them', said our nasty unnamed protagonist,'It's time to rend the flesh and bones, of this multitudinous antagonist',And the battle was soon over, almost as quickly as it began,The rather funny tinted raiders, were routed to a man,

But not before a rather embarrassing display, of supreme martial incompetence,When our beloved four-hoofed farmer beheld, a rather fiendish countenence,It was Yu-Dan or Fishgutz, who'd ammased quite a kill tally,Who clubbed him across the lumpy skull, and sent him all doolally,

He'd never be the same again, that four-legged once noble peasant,He'd now have the mental capacity, of a rather braindead pheasant,But this was fine by our unnamed man, he didn't need him to do equations,All that he requested of him, was that he kill things and sprout mutations,

And when the battle was over, and they had eaten all the slain,The unnamed man would wait and then, he'd sneak off in the rain,His rendesvouz would would be risky, but he knew it could not wait,And unbeknowst to the rest of the herd, he was sealing their measly fate,

Last edited by WarbossKurgan on Tue 19 Jan 2010 - 5:50; edited 1 time in total

With the Farms being settled by the new dwarf treasure hunters, the main house rang with the sound of clashing helmets, swearing and singing once again; the roving clan members couldn't help slipping into old dwarven habits wherever they were.They were true miners, as comfortable in the pitch black of the deep earth as above ground, possibly even more so. It was something about the weight, the mass of the rocks all around that comforted them and nurtured their stoic, stout attitudes. And their hard heads.We now see them carousing round the massive central hearth of the farmhouse, flagons slopping, beards dripping and lungs bellowing out the old songs...

"Hi-ho, hi-ho it's off to work we go, with an axe and a pick and an orc-beating stick hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho..." As is said, old traditions are cleaved to :rolleyes:

The Underminers special rule - Hi hooooooooo!

Through exuberant singing and typical dwarven discipline the Underminers can ignore the close proximity of enemies and march determinedly into battle!

Once per game the dwarfs can start a marching song that allows them to ignore the march blocking rule and travel at twice normal movement (running not charging) even if enemies are within 8" at the start of the movement phase.However tradition has it that this particular song dictates that the dwarfs march in a line so the song only has an effect if all the dwarfs are line astern at the start of the march.

I am deeply disturbed that I have at last uncovered the mystery of the abducted shaman cadaver. I shudder even as I write these words and can hardly believe it but I my own eyes have seen it for myself, on two separate occasions: the dead walk! No doubt some will try to dismiss my words and discredit my reputation but I as a respectable academic I am compelled to tell the truth: the cave orc shaman had been resurrected – or rather, reanimated, for there is no real life to be seen, just a walking corpse succumbing to corruption. It seems the nefarious deed was done by the fell necromancer employed in Raziel’s Court. He is no threat to my studies, and though his victim is little more than a brute beast, yet I still find myself repulsed by his evil and debased magics. This depraved malefactor must be stopped and I can only hope that the cave orcs posses sufficient sensibilities to seek revenge upon the defilers of their former comrade.

I’ve played two games so far this week, one against Dave (I won) and one again Dave & Richard. The second was a particularly memorable affair with Richard’s Woodies shooting at us from high up two towers joined by a walkway. Dave’s vampire stormed the prison tower while the cave orcs stormed the Lighthouse. Richard ran and Dave and I met on the walkway 10’ above the ground! Sadly the game had to stop before either of us got the upper hand...

What varied creatures greenskins are! Today I witnessed the cave orcs in battle against their eastern cousins The Gloomwyrms. In contrast to Uhg-ug-ugg's simple approach to warfare (viz. "Ug Waaagh!", that is 'charge'), these Cathayan pirates showed tactical skill and cunning that seemed to me not at all 'orky', but practically human! Somehow I doubt the cave orcs will ever be capable of employing such sophisticated ploys as tactical withdrawls and hiding behind a troll...

Beaten by Saul in a fun game this luncheim. Occupy is not really the ideal scenario for frenzied troops!

Buccaneer’s Blade Runner21st January, the year of the Earth Ox, Occupy at The Buccaneer’s Blade Inn

“Master! The Cave Orcs have dropped their guard in the part of the city near the Buccaneer’s Blade Inn.” said Bo-sun as he stood nervously in front of the Gloomwyrms’ leadership.

Mung-Qi calmly set down the carton of sweet and sour Squig and looked at Tricky Tarka.

“Hmmm. Time to expand our territory you think?” said Mung-Qi to the Shaman. Tricky Tarka picked up a handful of chop-sticks and cast them across the table then studied the pattern the fallen sticks made.

“Yes, if we are both lucky and cunning” said Tarka mysteriously.

±

The Gloomwyrms once again took on the might of the Lost Waaagh! This time though they used the Savages’ ferocity against them, luring the primitive Greenskins to their doom at the hands of Droo-Ling the Troll.

Sling stones skipped down the street, felling a few of the Gloomwyrms crew.

After taking possession of three of the key buildings the Pirate Orcs moved in on the old Bretonnian Chapel, little knowing that was going to be the focus of the day’s most vicious fighting.

Yu-Dan and Qi-el lurked in the grounds of the Wizard’s Tower, assuming they were safe from enemy fire.

The Cave Orcs moved in from the opposite end of the Chapel.

With unprecedented low cunning and deviousness Li-Ping and his mates fell back behind Droo-Ling the Troll, knowing that the savages would have no choice but to engage the lumbering monster!

The Lost Waaagh out-flanked the Pirates: Tricky Tarka and Xan-Di were both sent flying by the Cave Orc’s huge clubs.

Droo-ling swatted a Cave Orc like a fly but the last green savage was more dangerous than he looked. The savage felled the Troll after striking him dozens of times.

The Lost Waaagh Orcs who were holed-up in the ruined warehouse continued to shower the pirates with sling stones and Mork’s (or possibly Gork’s) fire.

Mung-Qi picked his moment to enter the fray and charged the Savage Boss and they exchanged blows for what seemed like an age!

Lightning bolts arced through the Wizard’s Tower and knocked a very surprised Yu-Dan off his feet.

While a Savage Big-Un jumped them wall on the other side of the tower.

±

The Eastern Pirates held back the Savage Orc horde and managed to hold on to two buildings out of the critical five, two were contested by both warbands and the last was held by the Lost Waaagh.

The Gloomwyrms victory was tempered slightly by the fact that the unconscious Xan-Di was captured by the Lost Waaagh. Who knows what the prehistoric greenies plan to do with the poor wretch?

With itchy axe hands, the Underminers set out to explore and hunt for treasures and resources.As is always the way in Vercuso it wasn't long before a rival warband crossed their paths.At the end of the crowded street the skaven emerged, between the dwarfs and the scent of gold."Right lads, no scraggy rats are gettin their paws on our haul, line up we're going for a walk!" With practised stoicism the dwarfs formed a line and prepared to march towards the sniffling, twitching, squeaking horde. All of a sudden a fireball erupted from above and sling shot peppered their leather tunics and the stone flags around them. Giant rats scampered from the dark and assaulted the young beardlings whilst 'Happy' the Troll Slayer eagerly charged forwards into some mean looking skaven.Doc, genially known as the the tinkerer by the lads loaded his crossbow and took aim at one of the skaven but missed. The beardlings fought off the rats and Happy, keen dwarf axes flashing, felled the skaven assassin.But the skaven were numerous and three good shots stunned the hard headed dwarfs, stopping them in their tracks. Seeing no way through and having just bruised his behind himself, 'Grumpy' old Gurnasson blew his delvinghorn and pulled the dwarfs back chuffed knowing that at least a few skaven bodies were left behind to be cannibalised.

Day 22 in the Month of the Watcher of the Portals

As the light changed and lengthened the shadows the dwarfs made their way back to the farms. Passing the murky edges of the river the shadows separated and from across either side of the large square two groups of fighters emerged. The skaven from the earlier clash (missing the assassin who lead them...) and some frenzied babbling horde of - ptooie - dirty stinking vile stupid evil worthless orcs were both intent on the streets in front of them barely noticing the small dwarf band. It didn't last long and even the dim witted orcs cottoned on that a fight was brewing!

Sniffing the unmistakable whiff of treasure ahead of them, the Underminers hurried forwards (as much as dwarfs can hurry, man they're slow :rolleyes:) and snatched some treaures and regrouped. Again fireballs from the rat's warlock scorched the air and engulfed Happy The orcs closed, dribbling and squabbling in equal measure (the stupid filthy creatures, they make me so mad!) and just as the brave doughty beardling faced them down, the last rays of the sun dipped below the battlements and the orcs must have thought the world had ended because they stopped, looked around, shrugged their big ugly shoulders and dumbly shambled off back to their holes. Oo how I hate orcsies!Luckily 'Happy' Groldar and the brave beardling recovered and the treasure was particularly fine smelling that night!

Thus has begun the grudgebearing...

Delia Runesmiths Grudgebook

Quote :

For the sorcery that burnt Happy's fine looking mohawk, the warlock Luciano Malatesta shall forever be an enemy of the dwarfs.

Thought it would be about time I started writing up some battle reports as I've started taking photos and also have nearly got to the point of using all my own models.

First up the encountering beasts

Whilst wandering their merry way through town we were set upon by a horde of half men half beast creatures. the fastest of them charged out from the herd and attacked Raziel the zombies at the back were worried for our leader but were, as always too far behind to help. Aparrently being dead slows your movement Whether it's the rotting limbs or the barely working brain I'm not sure and will experiment more to find out.

It was ok though as The big vampire is rather tough and managed to floor the beast.

Then he gave him a rather unsportsmanly boot to the head as he lay there out cold. It was at this point that The Beast and Kuato charged the smaller group of the herd taking down a few of the smaller ones.

This assault mst have been to much for the lesser gor to take and they fled. Even a roar from the leader to stand their ground wasn't enough to stop them.